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How to Maintain Healthy Feet with Diabetes

This can lead to many different problems including pain, deformities, and infections (you can read more here.) Here are a few things you can try to prevent diabetes related damage to your feet.

Keep the blood flowing

Do whatever you can to keep the blood flowing to your feet. Try not to sit or stand in uncomfortable positions that keep you still for too long. Also, frequently move all parts of your feet and ankles throughout the day. Wiggle your toes, stretch your ankles, etc. However, remember to be gentle and don’t over tire your feet. Excess strain on your feet can easily be missed especially if you have nerve damage already and you may be making things for your feet much worse.

Walk or swim

This is not only helpful for your feet, but for your overall health in general. Taking short walks and swimming both help keep the blood circulating throughout your body while keeping the impact on your feet minimal. When swimming however, remember to wear comfortable slippers to and from the pool, and wash and dry your toes thoroughly afterwards.

Balance Exercises

Balance can be greatly affected in people with diabetes because of a general loss in strength. In order to counteract this you can regain strength by standing on one foot and alternating feet for 30 seconds at a time as many times as you want. When you’re comfortable with that, you can progress to more difficult exercises such as throwing a ball on one leg or throwing a ball on one leg on an uneven surface like sand.

Patients with diabetes should always make sure to have regular appointments with their podiatrist. If you notice that you have sores or blisters that aren’t healing or calluses or corns you need to remove, make an appointment as soon as possible to prevent any infections from occurring. Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm of Clifton Foot & Ankle Center has been treating patients in the Centreville, VA area for over 17 years. If you have any questions call 703-996-3000 or make an appointment here.